Before preseason training began, West Ham United Technical Director Tim Steidten spoke with members of the written and broadcast media at London Stadium with Head Coach Julen Lopetegui.

Steidten, who was appointed to his position a year ago, is in charge of the Club’s overall player recruitment strategy and scouting division. He has already established a good working rapport with the new manager of the Hammers.

The German native addressed queries on recruitment and his plans for the next summer in addition to discussing recent conversations with current West Ham players. 

Reason Lopetegui is the perfect fit

We were seeking a driven instructor with a strong desire to do more. It was crucial to include someone that matched our ideals in terms of play style, philosophy, communication style, and integrating younger players. Julen meets that description and, crucially, is multilingual. I was completely sure that Julen was the best coach for us after our first meeting with him.

Recruitment plans

We’re not just interested in people; we’re also searching for profiles that will make good, close friends with Julen. Now that we are conversing daily, we are attempting to find players who fit that ideal description.

We are working to assemble the team, and the upcoming summer will be hectic for all of us. However, I am unable to speak on individual positions or the precise planning we are doing. We’re in a strong situation where we won’t need to sell in order to make money because the board has performed well in previous years.

England is where we are, so we have to work in that market as best as we possibly can. Ultimately it doesn’t matter where players come from – it’s our job to find the right players for West Ham United – but the English market is important for us.

Hammers heroes

I’ve had a conversation with Edson Álvarez, who sustained an injury while traveling with Mexico. He is completing the initial phase of his rehabilitation with the professionals in Mexico before returning to England, thanks to communication between our medical team and theirs.

Right now, communication and ensuring that everyone is on the same page are the most crucial things. Additionally, I’ve spoken with Lucas Paquetá, and I even paid him a visit while I was in Brazil watching some sports. Since he is such an integral part of our team and the West Ham family, we are excited to have him return.